2,081 research outputs found
Strategic Coopetition of Global Brands: A Game Theory Approach to ‘Nike + iPod Sport Kit’ Co-branding
No full textCo-branding can be implemented by establishing an agreement of strategic coopetition that allows companies to compete and cooperate simultaneously in order to obtain competitive advantages through operational synergy. With this type of agreement, brands enter markets sharing loyal customers they would be unlikely to reach individually. The main advantages associated with implementation of this form of strategic coopetition are the possibility of jointly communicating brand image, reputation and credibility in a global market where consumers tend to have homogeneous preferences and convergent lifestyles. The strategic coopetition between two global brands, Apple and Nike, through development of the ‘Nike+iPod Sport Kit’ product, serves as a benchmark to illustrate the benefits associated with implementation of coopetitive cooperation agreements. From application of the game theory, simulation of a game of strategic coopetition provided results that confirm global brands obtain benefits, albeit not in equal measure, in terms of adding value to the brand image at a world level.Co-branding; Coopetition; Global brands; Growth of brand value.
Regulation and function of the tonic component of cortical acetylcholine release
No full textRegulation and function of the tonic component of cortical acetylcholine release
Differential diffusive instabilities of miscible two-layer stratifications in porous media and Hele-Shaw cells
No full textIn porous media, a stratification of a given solution on top of another miscible solution can be buoyantly unstable because of an unstable density stratification or because of differential diffusive effects. The former is the well known Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) mechanism wherein the interface is destabilized by the denser solution overlying a less dense one in the gravity field. Whereas the latter is of particular interest in the field of oceanography, when the upper solution is less dense than the lower one with the lower component diffusing faster than the upper one, resulting in a double diffusive (DD) instability. Similarly, a diffusive-layer convection (DLC) instability has also been observed for a stable density stratification with the upper solute diffusing faster than the lower one. Though the literature on differential diffusion effects is pretty vast, very few studies have managed to establish a connection, both qualitatively and quantitatively, between numerical simulations and experimental observations, which is the basis of the present study. We report our findings in a broad parameter range where the instability mechanism could be triggered by an unstable density stratification or due to differential diffusive effects, or even both, resulting in mixed modes
Guided Wave based Damage Detection in a Composite T-joint using 3D Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer
No full textComposite T-joints are commonly used in modern composite airframe, pressure vessels and piping structures, mainly to increase the bending strength of the joint and prevents buckling of plates and shells, and in multi-cell thin-walled structures. Here we report a detailed study on the propagation of guided ultrasonic wave modes in a composite T-joint and their interactions with delamination in the co-cured co-bonded flange. A well designed guiding path is employed wherein the waves undergo a two step mode conversion process, one is due to the web and joint filler on the back face of the flange and the other is due to the delamination edges close to underneath the accessible surface of the flange. A 3D Laser Doppler Vibrometer is used to obtain the three components of surface displacements/velocities of the accessible face of the flange of the T-joint. The waves are launched by a piezo ceramic wafer bonded on to the back surface of the flange. What is novel in the proposed method is that the location of any change in material/geometric properties can be traced by computing a frequency domain power flow along a scan line. The scan line can be chosen over a grid either during scan or during post-processing of the scan data off-line. The proposed technique eliminates the necessity of baseline data and disassembly of structure for structural interrogation
Multiple time scales and variable spaces: synaptic neurotransmission in vivo
No full textRegulation and function of the tonic component of cortical acetylcholine release
Pollution Crime Scenario Reconstruction for Effective Environmental Redress
No full textDealing pollution cases as criminal offences requires proof beyond reasonable doubt for
conviction. To meet this highest standard of evidentiary requirement, forensic professionals
need to adopt the best tools and methods available to them. “Crime Scene Reconstruction”
is a method adopted in traditional crimes to recreate the exact sequence of events leading
to the crime from the physical evidences collected at the crime scene. This paper presents
the adoption of the method of crime reconstruction to environmental crimes. All stages of
traditional crime scene reconstruction, starting from recognition of physical evidence from
the scene, its identification and individualization, collection of data, hypothesis formulation,
it’s testing and final reconstruction are explained in the context of environmental crimes. An
effective method to apply in the reconstruction of an environmental crime scene must rely
on several experts of different scientific domains who are united in defining, through the
search for evidences, the causal link that connects the “victim”
, the “guilt” and the
“perpetrator”
. Often, the difficulty in such reconstruction is because the perpetrator’s motive
is not really connected to environmental aspects, but only the consequential effects are
revealed in the environment. However, even if the actions that caused the damage to the
environment were not the real motive of the perpetrator, this does not redeem him from
the responsibility of associated environmental crimes, but makes the process of reconstructing
the crime more complex, especially in the search for the cause-effect relationship. The
activity related to the analysis of an environmental crime scene is to be considered a situational
awareness activity that aims to evaluate not only a specific action in a scene but the
entire dynamics of a complex scenario. Considering the complexities that are characteristic
of environmental crimes, we propose one more stage in addition to the general stages of
traditional crime reconstruction, that of presenting the reconstructed scenario in a way that
is easy for the legal fraternity to compre
A nitrogen-vacancy spin based molecular structure microscope using multiplexed projection reconstruction.
No full textMethods and techniques to measure and image beyond the state-of-the-art have always been influential in propelling basic science and technology. Because current technologies are venturing into nanoscopic and molecular-scale fabrication, atomic-scale measurement techniques are inevitable. One such emerging sensing method uses the spins associated with nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defects in diamond. The uniqueness of this NV sensor is its atomic size and ability to perform precision sensing under ambient conditions conveniently using light and microwaves (MW). These advantages have unique applications in nanoscale sensing and imaging of magnetic fields from nuclear spins in single biomolecules. During the last few years, several encouraging results have emerged towards the realization of an NV spin-based molecular structure microscope. Here, we present a projection-reconstruction method that retrieves the three-dimensional structure of a single molecule from the nuclear spin noise signatures. We validate this method using numerical simulations and reconstruct the structure of a molecular phantom \b{eta}-cyclodextrin, revealing the characteristic toroidal shape
Climate change impact on coastal fisheries and aquaculture in the SAARC
No full textObservations in fisheries sciences related to climate change foresee a future
with intensified climate change as a consequence of increased greenhouse gases
(GHGs) in the atmosphere because of human activities. The increase in GHGs
has resulted in warming of climate systems or global warming. In last 100 years,
ending in 2005, the average global air temperature near the earth’s surface has
been estimated to increase at the rate of 0.74 ± 0.18°C (1.33 ± 0.32°F) (IPCC,
2007). In the latest IPCC report (IPCC, 2014), climate model projections
indicated that the global surface temperature during the 21st century is likely to
rise a further 0.3 to 1.7°C (0.5 to 3.1°F) for their lowest emissions scenario and
2.6 to 4.8°C (4.7 to 8.6°F) for the highest emissions scenario. In the past, 15 of
the 16 warmest years have occurred since 2001 and rank among the 15 warmest
years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature since 1850.
Climate change and associated warming is increasingly being felt in many parts
of the globe including India. Climate change is predicted to lead to adverse,
irreversible impacts on the earth and the ecosystem as a whole. Although it is
difficult to connect specific weather events to climate change, increases in
global temperature has been predicted to cause broader changes, including
glacial retreat, arctic shrinkage and worldwide sea level rise (Mohanty et al.,
2010).The Chaliyar river is one of the west flowing rivers of Western Ghats. It has many tributaries such as Karimpuzha. Punnappuzha, Kuruvanpuzha, Tiruanchipuzha, Cherupuzha. etc. with a catchment area of 1535 sq. km. The total discharge of the river is 7775 Mm3, The river which was in a pristine condition before 4 to 5 decades has become highly degraded in the lower stretches by the effluents of Gwalior Rayons and in the upper stretches by various anthropogenic factors like deforestation, high siltation, dynamite fishing and use of copper sulphate for fishing. During the summer months, the water in the river is very low due to high run off during the wet months
Sensing of delamination in laminated composite beams using multiple magnetostrictive patches
No full textSmart Composite laminates with multiple magnetorestrictive patches have been fabricated, one patch is for actuation and the other patch is for sensing. Horse-show type coil arrangement is used for actuation and sensing, which contains two arms, one arm is used for actuation and the other arm for sensing. Delamination sensing is carried out for composite laminated beam specimens, one with delamination and the other without any defect or damage. Actuation coil is used to induce stress in the magnetostrictive material, sensing coil is used for sensing to measure the induced open circuit voltage. Due to delamination, the stress produced in the magnetostrictive patch changes and that alters the magnetic flux through the sensing coil. This causes a change in the induced open circuit voltage across the sensing coil. The paper presents, the sensing of delamination in composite laminates using multiple magnetostrictive patches with horse-shoe type coil arrangement. The difference in the open circuit voltage with and without delamination is treated as delamination sensing voltage. For theoretical modeling, different models of the laminated composite beams with magnetostrictive sensors and actuators have been developed for the beams with and without delamination. Finite element analysis is carried out using NISA finite element software. Numerical values of open circuit voltage verses actuation current for both the experimental and computational studies are presented. Comparison of experimental and the computational studies shows that there is a good agreement between both the results obtained. Hence, the modeling method is very efficient and may be very much useful for the further studies related to the smart structures with intelligent materials
The role of childhood social position in adult type 2 diabetes: evidence from the English longitudinal study of ageing
No full textBackground: socioeconomic circumstances in childhood and early adulthood may influence the later onset of chronic disease, although such research is limited for type 2 diabetes and its risk factors at the different stages of life. The main aim of the present study is to examine the role of childhood social position and later inflammatory markers and health behaviours in developing type 2 diabetes at older ages using a pathway analytic approach.Methods: data on childhood and adult life circumstances of 2,994 men and 4,021 women from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were used to evaluate their association with diabetes at age 50 years and more. The cases of diabetes were based on having increased blood levels of glycated haemoglobin and/or self-reported medication for diabetes and/or being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Father’s job when ELSA participants were aged 14 years was used as the measure of childhood social position. Current social characteristics, health behaviours and inflammatory biomarkers were used as potential mediators in the statistical analysis to assess direct and indirect effects of childhood circumstances on diabetes in later life.Results: 12.6 per cent of participants were classified as having diabetes. A disadvantaged social position in childhood, as measured by father’s manual occupation, was associated at conventional levels of statistical significance with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood, both directly and indirectly through inflammation, adulthood social position and a risk score constructed from adult health behaviours including tobacco smoking and limited physical activity. The direct effect of childhood social position was reduced by mediation analysis (standardised coefficient decreased from 0.089 to 0.043) but remained statistically significant (p =?0.035). All three indirect pathways made a statistically significantly contribution to the overall effect of childhood social position on adulthood type 2 diabetes.Conclusions: childhood social position influences adult diabetes directly and indirectly through inflammatory markers, adulthood social position and adult health behaviour
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